Uplink Resource Allocation Using Delegate Terminals for PRACH Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless telecommunications networks face congestion and interference issues due to the increasing number of terminal devices seeking access, particularly in random access procedures, which can lead to performance degradation and increased power consumption in devices like MTC devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a scheme where a base station allocates uplink resources to terminal devices based on their predicted traffic profiles, with one terminal device acting as a 'delegate' to initiate resource requests, thereby reducing the need for individual random access procedures and minimizing PRACH transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terminal devices perform individual random access procedures to request uplink resources, then each device can obtain the resources it needs, but network congestion and interference increase due to the large number of devices accessing simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple terminal devices into groups based on their traffic profiles, allowing one delegate device to represent the entire group for resource requests. This combining approach reduces the number of individual random access procedures from many devices to just one delegate per group, thereby reducing network congestion and interference while still ensuring reliable resource allocation for all group members.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a delegate terminal device as an intermediary between the network and grouped terminal devices. The delegate acts on behalf of its group members to request uplink resources, eliminating the need for each device to perform individual random access procedures. This intermediary mechanism reduces the number of PRACH transmissions and associated contention while maintaining reliable resource allocation.
2Ease of operation
If terminal devices transmit random access preambles to request resources, then they can initiate uplink communications, but power consumption increases due to frequent transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple terminal devices into groups with similar traffic profiles, allowing them to share a single delegate for resource requests. This merging reduces the number of random access procedures each device must perform, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining simple access procedures through the delegate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary grouping of terminal devices based on their traffic profiles before resource allocation. By pre-organizing devices into groups with predictable traffic patterns, the system can anticipate resource needs and reduce the frequency of random access procedures, thereby reducing power consumption while keeping access procedures simple through the delegate mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more terminal devices are supported in the network, then network coverage and service capability improve, but the potential for radio network congestion and interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges large numbers of terminal devices into manageable groups based on traffic profiles, with each group represented by a single delegate. This approach allows the network to support a large total number of devices while reducing the number of simultaneous random access procedures to one per group, thereby reducing congestion and interference despite high device density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification and grouping of terminal devices based on their traffic profiles before they need to access resources. This advance organization allows the network to handle large numbers of devices efficiently by predicting which groups will need resources and when, reducing unexpected congestion and interference from uncoordinated random access attempts.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of allocating radio resources for uplink transmissions in a wireless telecommunications system, the method comprising: a first terminal device communicating a request for an allocation of radio resources to a base station; the base station determining there is an association between the first terminal device and a second terminal device based on their having similar predicted traffic profiles for uplink data; and the base station establishing a radio resource allocation for the second terminal device based on the resources requested by the first terminal device, and consequently transmitting radio resource allocation messages to allocate radio resources to the first and the second terminal devices for respective uplink transmissions based on the request for an allocation of radio resources received from the first terminal device.